Center for Judaic Studies

Welcome to

The Center for Judaic Studies

The Center for Judaic Studies is a vibrant source of in-depth Jewish learning on campus and across Colorado. In addition to being home to our own faculty experts, CJS hosts annual visiting scholars from around the world.

Judaic Studies

The Judaic Studies program combines courses in Judaic studies, English, Hebrew, history, philosophy and religious studies to give students a well-rounded perspective on Jewish culture, thought and history.

Holocaust Memorial Social Action Site

A University of Denver space dedicated to inclusivity and diversity, the mission of the Holocaust Memorial Social Action Site is to honor and remember those who lost their lives in the Holocaust by dedicating ourselves to acts of learning, dialogue, and bridge-building aimed at making the world a better place.

Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society

The Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society is one of the premier local Jewish historical societies in the United States. It is the largest and most exhaustive historical society of its kind in the region.

Holocaust Awareness Institute

The Holocaust Awareness Institute is a campus and community resource for coursework, teacher trainings, education materials and programming. HAI is the region's leading agent for promoting education about the Holocaust and related ethical and social justice issues.

Internationalization

CJS works with campus and community partners on a number of global projects. In addition to our curricular emphasis on internationalization, CJS faculty members travel around the world to present their research findings and to pursue their work at international archives, museums, and archaeological sites.

Center for Judaic Studies

Advancing knowledge of Jewish history, thought and culture through learning, intercultural dialogue, and social action.

The Center for Judaic Studies (CJS) is a vibrant source of in-depth Jewish learning on campus and across Colorado.

Our faculty are research and teaching experts in a wide range of interdisciplinary areas of Judaic Studies. Their work is internationally recognized, and they offer an impressive annual lineup of undergraduate and graduate courses in fields of Jewish history, religion, language, literature, philosophy, film, and culture.

In addition to being home to our own faculty experts, CJS hosts annual visiting scholars, performing artists, authors, poets and filmmakers from around the world.

This Judaic Studies Spring Internship with Hazon will explore food, sustainability, and spirituality through hands-on projects and select readings. Work with Hazon Colorado to produce their annual food festival on May 17, 2015. Interns will earn college credit & gain valuable on-the-job experience while working 10-15 flexible hours a week.

Off-campus internship requirements:• Support the production of fun and innovative programming.• Create foodie/environmental “activity kits” for exhibitors.• Research and recruit food vendors.• Help coordinate event volunteers.• Disseminate marketing material.• Assist with event set-up and cleanup.

My interactions with the Center for Judaic Studies have helped further my academic pursuits by exposing me to the different cultures, languages, and values of the people living in Israel, and helping me realize that the possibility of peaceful coexistence between the religions is possible. Participating in vivid class discussions and learning Hebrew with a hands on approach has helped me realize that I have a vested interested in the Middle East and religion as it pertains to the modern world. CJS aided in solidifying my resolve to be active in my immediate community as I continue receiving an education so that I would have the ability to be proactive abroad.

The Week of Jewish Philosophy is a 2-day intensive series of seminars and roundtables on themes of Jewish philosophy, religion, and theology. Helping us work through difficult concepts in classical Jewish texts of philosophy the Week of Jewish Philosophy offers a series of unique intercultural and diversity-enhancing learning opportunities for those interested in philosophy, religious studies, and inter-religious dialogue. The intensive series of events addresses core questions about Judaism, including questions related to Theology, Ethics, Covenant, Religion, Law, History, Methodology, and Praxis. The event is an annual partnership between CU and DU, and is organized by Elias Sacks (CU, Religious Studies, Jewish Studies) and Sarah Pessin (DU, Philosophy, Judaic Studies).

Dr. Randi Rashkover is an associate professor of Religious Studies and director of the Judaic Studies Program at George Mason University. She is the author of Revelation and Theopolitics: Barth, Rosenzweig and the Politics of Praise (T&T Clark, 2005) and editor of Liturgy Time and the Politics of Redemption (Wm.B. Eerdmans, 2006) and Tradition in the Public Square: A Novak Reader (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2007).

Her areas of expertise include Jewish philosophy, Jewish political thought, Jewish-Christian and Jewish-Islamic relations and women in Judaism. She has published widely in a range of leading journals including, The Journal of Jewish Thought and Philosophy, Jewish Studies Quarterly, Modern Theology, Philosophy Today and has been contributing editor of the journal Cross Currents for over ten years. Dr. Rashkover lectures at universities, synagogues and churches throughout the U.S., the U.K. and Canada.

As part of University College’s Enrichment Program, Dr. Jonathan Sciarcon, Assistant Professor of History and Judaic Studies, will teach the two session evening course (Wed., 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mar. 25, Apr. 1, 2015), The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Israeli Perspectives. Click here to find out more and register for the course.